The Bel Air became Chevy’s entry-level model when the entire lineup was revised in 1973, and the low-end 4-door sedan was a favorite with Police, Taxi, and other fleet buyers. PremiumX’s new resincast wears the correct color scheme and graphics for the Chicago P.D. in ’73; body lines are accurate and every detail, from the complex grille to the translucent red taillights, is present and correct. Window surrounds, handles, and rocker panel moldings are printed chrome while the legible Chevrolet and “Bel Air” scripts appear to be ultra-thin, perfectly applied etched pieces. The 1973 Illinois plates are legible under magnification (or with very good eyes), and the standard-issue spotlight and steel wheels with small caps and beauty rings are here, too; while this light bar doesn’t appear in photos of contemporary Police-package Bel Airs, it is on other Chicago cruisers so PremiumX is most likely correct. Interior detail is very well done with excellent upholstery detail, silver-printed relief handles and cranks, some wood-grain trim, and an accurate decal instrument panel, but no sign of any communications gear or other Police equipment. Dimensions are within 0.02 of perfect 1:43. – Wayne Moyer

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About the author

I’ll start by saying that my “real world” job for 37 years was being an AeroSpace Engineer in the Preliminary Design Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for 37 years. I’ve been a car nut (as well as an airplane nut) for as long as I can remember but I never intended to be a writer. I began collecting 1/43 scale diecast models in 1966 and wrote a story about making the Dinky and Mebetoys Ford GT models more accurate for Collector’s Automotive Replica Society (CARS) in ’68. Then in the early ‘70’s I bought one of John Day’s first white-metal kits, the Mercedes 300SLR, and wrote a story about that which was published in Scale Modeler in 1972. John liked it and sent some more kits and, well, things just got out of hand. I’ve written about 1/43 scale models (and kits) in one or more magazine continuously since then and those Fords and the 300SLR (yes, I still have it) have been joined by about 3500 more models. Although I’ve never been out of the country, this hobby has given me the opportunity to make friends all over the world, something that would never have happened if I hadn’t bought those Ford GT’s. At this point I’ve had more than 1700 magazine articles published and plan to add some more to that with DiecastX. I’m really looking forward to this association with a great group of people who have helped make the hobby what it is and hope to make a lot more new friends through these pages.